Reading device

Abstract

A reading device includes a first illuminating section that illuminates a reading area with first illumination light of a first direction; a second illuminating section that illuminates the reading area with second illumination light of a second direction; a light-receiving section that receives reflection light of the first illumination light and reflection light of the second illumination light reflected from the reading area, the first illumination light being applied from the first illuminating section and the second illumination light being applied from the second illuminating section; and reflecting members that are disposed side by side in the reading area in a widthwise direction thereof, and that have first and second reflecting surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A reading device comprising:
 a first illuminating section that illuminates a reading area with first illumination light of a first direction, the reading area having a width that is larger than a width of a medium on which an image is formed; 
 a second illuminating section that illuminates the reading area with second illumination light of a second direction; 
 a light-receiving section that receives reflection light of the first illumination light and reflection light of the second illumination light reflected from the reading area, the first illumination light being applied from the first illuminating section and the second illumination light being applied from the second illuminating section; and 
 a plurality of reflecting members that are disposed side by side in the reading area in a widthwise direction thereof, the plurality of reflecting members having a corresponding one of a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface, the first reflecting surface reflecting the first illumination light towards the light-receiving section and intercepting the second illumination light that propagates towards the first reflecting surface, the second reflecting surface reflecting the second illumination light towards the light-receiving section and intercepting the first illumination light that propagates towards the second reflecting surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The reading device according to  claim 1 , wherein an angle that a normal vector to the first reflecting surface forms with the second direction is less than or equal to 90 degrees, and
 wherein an angle that a normal vector to the second reflecting surface forms with the first direction is less than or equal to 90 degrees. 
 
     
     
       3. The reading device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a controller that, in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the first reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, controls the first illuminating section so that a quantity of the first illumination light approaches that prior to the change, and that, in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the second reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, controls the second illuminating section so that a quantity of the second illumination light approaches that prior to the change. 
     
     
       4. The reading device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a light-intercepting member that is interposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in the widthwise direction, the light-intercepting member intercepting the second illumination light that is applied towards the first reflecting surface and intercepting the first illumination light that is applied towards the second reflecting surface. 
     
     
       5. The reading device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a controller that, in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the first reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, or in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the second reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, controls a light quantity of the first illuminating section or a light quantity of the second illuminating section so that a ratio between a quantity of the first illumination light and a quantity of the second illumination light approaches that prior to the change. 
     
     
       6. The reading device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a light-intercepting member that is interposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in the widthwise direction, the light-intercepting member intercepting the second illumination light that is applied towards the first reflecting surface and intercepting the first illumination light that is applied towards the second reflecting surface. 
     
     
       7. The reading device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a light-intercepting member that is interposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in the widthwise direction, the light-intercepting member intercepting the second illumination light that is applied towards the first reflecting surface and intercepting the first illumination light that is applied towards the second reflecting surface. 
     
     
       8. The reading device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that, in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the first reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, controls the first illuminating section so that a quantity of the first illumination light approaches that prior to the change, and that, in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the second reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, controls the second illuminating section so that a quantity of the second illumination light approaches that prior to the change. 
     
     
       9. The reading device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a light-intercepting member that is interposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in the widthwise direction, the light-intercepting member intercepting the second illumination light that is applied towards the first reflecting surface and intercepting the first illumination light that is applied towards the second reflecting surface. 
     
     
       10. The reading device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that, in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the first reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, or in accordance with a change in a quantity of the light reflected from the second reflecting surface and received by the light-receiving section, controls a light quantity of the first illuminating section or a light quantity of the second illuminating section so that a ratio between a quantity of the first illumination light and a quantity of the second illumination light approaches that prior to the change. 
     
     
       11. The reading device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a light-intercepting member that is interposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in the widthwise direction, the light-intercepting member intercepting the second illumination light that is applied towards the first reflecting surface and intercepting the first illumination light that is applied towards the second reflecting surface. 
     
     
       12. The reading device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light-intercepting member that is interposed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface in the widthwise direction, the light-intercepting member intercepting the second illumination light that is applied towards the first reflecting surface and intercepting the first illumination light that is applied towards the second reflecting surface.